Skip to content 
Vertical Elevation is an organizational strategy firm delivering the Organizational Scaffold System—a three-phase program for SMBs to prepare for, achieve, and sustain growth. Companies often stall during growth because they lack the systems to support it. When the CEO is buried in emails, meetings, and constant firefighting, growth can’t happen. Our team of experts led by industry thought leader Carol Schultz works hands-on with the executive team to address crucial gaps limiting growth and install the necessary structures, frameworks, systems, and support.The Organizational Scaffold System is unique because we install a full time or fractional chief of staff when we exit the project, who acts as a strategic partner to the CEO, ensuring scalable growth.
Vertical Elevation is a talent equity and leadership and coaching advisory firm specializing in strategic business planning, leadership development, and career coaching. By tackling the root causes of high employee turnover and low workplace morale, we motivate and inspire our clients to create and sustain a healthy, talent-centric company that runs at maximum efficiency.
For nearly 30 years, we’ve helped businesses avoid making repeat mistakes by developing confident, competent leadership teams that allow your company to run like a well-oiled machine.
Sign up for Rise, our monthly newsletter, and our weekly podcast email
We promise not to spam you
Carol Schultz, founder & CEO of Vertical Elevation, Inc. Magazine columnist, and host of the Evolving your Workplace podcast is an outspoken entrepreneur focused on freeing CEOs who have become hostages of their own companies.
After spending decades working with executive leaders as a professional recruiter and executive coach, she noticed a common mistake: attempting to do it all themselves, spending much of their days buried in emails, meetings, and employees’ jobs, which ultimately leads to failure in the long term.
She built a 9-step program, “The Organizational Scaffold System”, to help founders/CEOs wake up, get help, and restructure their time so they can grow their business, not babysit it. In fast-moving times like these, she’s found this to be a growing problem that people are simply unaware of.
What makes Carol unique is her no-BS personality. She brings extreme honesty and passion to conversations and is definitely not afraid to ruffle feathers. Equally, she is open about her failures as a leader early in her career, which led her to where she is today.
Barb believes leaders and teams should have more range, resiliency, and meaning in their work. Backed by more than 26 years of experience as a Leadership Coach, Talent Development Leader, and Change Consultant, is passionate about helping leaders navigate complexity and uses proven tools such as Emergenetics® and Leadership Circle™ 360 assessments in her leadership training. She is a Dare to Lead™ Facilitator, on faculty for the Co-Active Training Institute (CTI) and a Professional Certified Coach with the ICF.
Her extensive consulting experience at Accenture and IBM Global Services paired with her background as Director of Talent Development at First Data and TWTelecom make Barb an unparalleled force in leadership and talent development.
To add to her impressive list of accomplishments, Barb enjoys a multi-generational, multi-family living situation affectionately known as ‘The Compound’ in the Denver suburbs. Along with her husband and two teenage boys are her mother and brother’s family. This means 5 adults, 5 teenagers, 2 dogs, a cat, and endless opportunities to enjoy good food, outdoor adventures, and bad dad jokes together.
Dr. Stephanie Duguid is a renowned expert in Educational Leadership and an International Best-Selling Author. With over 100 conference invitations and numerous appearances at colleges and universities nationwide, Dr. Stephanie is a sought-after speaker known for her expertise in positive educational leadership and effective communication.
Drawing from decades of experience in K-12 and Higher Education, she is a strategist and connector, empowering clients to achieve exceptional outcomes. Dr. Stephanie’s insights have been featured in notable outlets, and she is also the creator and host of the “Empowering Women in Educational Leadership” radio show, podcast, and blog. In her highly acclaimed keynote, “Exponentially Elevate Your Impact as an Educational Leader,” she inspires audiences to define their purpose and vision in educational leadership, addressing topics like Positive Leadership, Mindset, Optimism, and Conflict Management with Grace.
Beyond her professional achievements, Dr. Stephanie is actively involved in leadership roles within educational organizations and is dedicated to supporting students through community college scholarships in memory of her mother.